Academy of Smart Thinkers

Hands-on STEM education, research, and innovation

Hands-On

STEM Learning

Community

Impact Focus

Maker Faire

Exhibitions

About AOST

Elementary & Middle School STEM Activities

What We Do

Academy of Smart Thinkers (AOST) provides hands-on STEM experiences for elementary and middle school students through practical projects and community activities.

Our Approach

"Education is the best way to entertain" - We focus on experiential learning through projects, exhibits at events like Maker Faire, and community activities.

Activities

Students work on meaningful projects from concept to exhibition, participating in science exploration, engineering builds, and creative computing.

Founder's STEM Journey

From curiosity about asteroids to inspiring young minds through hands-on learning

🚀

Early Spark (Age 7)

Avviin's STEM journey began with a letter to NASA about protecting planets from asteroids using sunlight. NASA's encouraging response ignited his lifelong passion for science and space exploration.

  • Started with Scratch programming in elementary school
  • First Maker Faire projects with parents' science club
  • Early curiosity about planetary protection
🏆

Competition Excellence

Outstanding achievements in Science Olympiad, Math competitions, and academic excellence throughout middle school.

  • Individual: Code Busters (2nd), Meteorology (3rd), Optics (4th), Dynamic Planet (7th)
  • Multiple Regional & State Champions (2023-25)
  • Noetic, Math Kangaroo, AMC participant
👨‍🎓

Leadership & Sports

Balanced academic excellence with leadership roles and athletic participation at Kennedy Middle School.

  • Speech Captain (8th Grade)
  • Basketball team player (7th & 8th grades)
  • Teaching Assistant at ITA Tamil School, Cupertino
  • Community Python teaching in India
🔬

Research & Innovation

Passionate about microbiology, medical sciences, and using technology for cultural preservation and education.

  • Independent microbiology and medical research
  • Tamil LLM research for language education
  • Native language learning technology development
  • "Education is the best way to entertain"

AOST Activities

Hands-on STEM experiences for young learners

🔬

Science Exploration

Hands-on laboratory experiences and real-world applications

  • Microscopy and lab safety
  • Simple experiments and observations
  • Science fair project guidance
  • Nature and environment studies
⚙️

Engineering & Robotics

Build and program solutions to everyday problems

  • Arduino and Raspberry Pi projects
  • Basic robotics and automation
  • 3D design and printing
  • Maker Faire project development
💻

Creative Computing

Programming through games, stories, and interactive projects

  • Scratch programming for beginners
  • Python fundamentals
  • Game and animation creation
  • Problem-solving through code

Blogs & Content

Science, engineering, and creative coding insights

🔬

Science: Microbiology

Deep dives into microbiology, laboratory techniques, and medical science applications

  • Microorganism studies and observations
  • Laboratory safety and techniques
  • Disease mechanisms and prevention
  • Real-world medical applications
Read Science Blogs
⚙️

Engineering: Sensors & Projects

Hands-on engineering projects, sensor implementations, and build documentation

  • Sensor calibration and data collection
  • Arduino and Raspberry Pi tutorials
  • Robotics design and implementation
  • Engineering problem-solving approaches
Read Engineering Blogs
🎮

Scratch Programming Videos

Programming tutorials and projects from elementary years showcasing computational thinking

  • Scratch Jr basics and programming fundamentals
  • Binary encoder projects and system logic
  • Mathematical operations and computational concepts
  • Early programming projects and tutorials
Watch on YouTube

Research & Technology

Language learning, educational technology, and innovative projects

4-bit Binary Encoder

Hardware Project

Digital logic education project connecting switches to binary encoding using Raspberry Pi and GPIO-driven LEDs.

Technical Features:

  • Binary number system visualization
  • GPIO programming and hardware interfacing
  • Educational tool for digital logic concepts
  • Raspberry Pi-based implementation

Contact Information

Academy of Smart Thinkers